Tue July 29, 2014

France Presses On With Deal To Sell Two Warships To Russia

People holding Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar flags demonstrate in front of the French-built Vladivostok warship in St. Nazaire, western France, on June 1. The protesters are opposed to the sale of the Vladivostok and Sevastopol warships to Russia.

People in St. Nazaire, the port town where the boats are being built, agree: The contract with Moscow should be fulfilled, they say. Despite mounting international pressure, cancellation of the deal, they say, would be a bad move for business.

There's not much love for Russian President Vladimir Putin in France. But in St. Nazaire, the contract is more about preserving a way of life than anything else.

Shipbuilding has been a mainstay of the local economy since the 19th century. Today, the town — located where the Loire River empties into the Atlantic Ocean — is one of the world's top builders of massive cruise ships and ferries. To keep that place, people say, contracts must be respected.

That includes 72-year-old retired Russian teacher Francois Chabeau. He says he avoids meeting Russians these days because they all love Putin, who Chabeau says is "dreadful."

"I think we must deliver the ships because we have a contract with the Russians," Chabeau says. "If we don't deliver the ships there will [not be new] contracts for ships."

And that, he says, trumps what's happening in Ukraine.

"Yes, on one side it's terrible what happens," he says. "But on the other side, we have a contract."

Other townspeople, like tobacco shop owner Christian Saunier, 60, say the ships are not the cause of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and canceling them won't resolve the crisis. He also points out that France is the world's third-largest arms seller, and if it cancels the ships it should also cancel all the missiles and planes it sells abroad.

The Russian ships are providing five years of employment for about 2,500 people in St. Nazaire.

The town appears to be thriving. On a recent day, hundreds of people shop at a market overflowing with fresh produce, and freshly caught fish.

Marc Menager, 65, has worked at the St. Nazaire shipyard for 37 years.

While the ship workers are prouder of the ocean liners they build, like the Queen Mary 2, Menager says, the warship contract came at a time when orders were down.

Some 400 Russian soldiers sailed into St. Nazaire last month. They came to train on one of the newly built warships, the Vladivostok — and then sail it home in a few months. A second ship, the Sevastopol, which is still under construction, is set to be delivered to Russia in 2015.

Down by the water, there's a ceremony going on in the shipyard, next to the Vladivostok. A group of Russian sailors in uniform is singing military songs.

Bernard Grua, an activist who is protesting this ship deal, is one of the local people watching through the fence.

"These people, they represent Putin's regime. And sure, it's not only frustrating, but excuse me, it's disgusting," he says. "This collaboration is a shame for France."

Grua says the next generation will have to live with the consequences.

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Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Despite those new sanctions, France plans to go ahead with the sale of two warships to Russia. International pressure has been mounting for the contract to be canceled. But in the port town where the ships are being built, people say the contract with Moscow should be fulfilled. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley sent this report.

ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: It seems like everyone in Saint-Nazaire is talking about the 400 Russian sailors who sailed into port last month. The sailors are here to train on one of the newly built warships, the Vladivostok, and then sail it home in a few months' time. In a tobacco shop on Saint-Nazaire's main square, owner Christian Saunier says he's sold the Russians American cigarettes.

CHRISTIAN SAUNIER: (Through translator) They're a lot better than the wild vodka drinkers we were expecting. They're discrete, and it's amazing how they've even picked up some French after being here for only a few weeks.

(SOUNDBITE OF SEAGULLS)

BEARDSLEY: In the port town of Saint-Nazaire, where the Loire River empties into the Atlantic Ocean, shipbuilding has been a way of life since the 19th century. Today, the town is one of the world's top builders of massive cruise ships and ferries. To keep that place, people say contracts must be honored, even retired Russian teacher Francois Chabeau, who says he avoids meeting Russians these days because they all love President Vladimir Putin, who Chabeau calls dreadful.

FRANCOIS CHABEAU: I think we must deliver the ships because we have a contract with the Russians. If we don't deliver the ships, there will not be new contracts for ships.

BEARDSLEY: What about what's happening in Ukraine?

CHABEAU: Yes, on one side, it's terrible what happens. But on the other side, we have a contract.

SAUNIER: (French spoken).

BEARDSLEY: Other townspeople, like Christian Saunier, say the ships are not the cause of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and canceling them won't resolve the crisis. Saunier says France is the world's third-largest arms seller. And if it cancels the ships, it should also cancel all the missiles and planes it sells abroad. It's market day in Saint-Nazaire. Colorful fruits and vegetables overflow stands, and fresh seafood stairs up from icy platters. An accordion player entertains the relaxed, summertime crowd. The Russian ships are providing five years employment for about 2,500 people in Saint-Nazaire.

MARC MENAGER: (French spoken).

BEARDSLEY: Marc Menager has worked at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard for 37 years. He says, while the ship workers are more proud of the ocean liners they build, the warship contract came at a time when orders were down. Menager says the two warships will not be outfitted with weaponry or communication systems. Critics say they will be able to carry hundreds of troops and helicopters.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 1: (Russian spoken).

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: (Russian spoken).

BEARDSLEY: We finally run into a couple of sunburned Russian sailors. Out of uniform and wearing shorts, they don't want to give their names or get into politics. We just carry out orders, they say. The sailors say they've been welcomed in Saint-Nazaire, and the Vladivostok is a beautiful ship.

(SOUNDBITE OF SEAGULLS)

BEARDSLEY: Down by the water, there's a ceremony going on. They're having a military ceremony in the harbor in Saint-Nazaire, in the shipyard right beside the Vladivostok, which is finished and ready to sail to Russia. Bernard Grua is one of the local people watching through the fence.

BERNARD GRUA: These people, they represent Putin's regime. And sure, it's not only frustrating but, excuse me, it's disgusting. This collaboration is a shame for France.

BEARDSLEY: Grua says the next generation will have to live with the consequences. Eleanor Beardsley. NPR News, Saint-Nazaire, France. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.